Melatonin and human rhythms
Melatonin and human rhythms
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DOI：
10.1080/07420520500464361
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发表时间：
2006-01-01
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
Arendt, J
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Arendt, J
褪黑激素的分泌模式决定了哺乳动物一天中的时间和一年中的时间，也就是“生物学上的夜晚”。这对于研究人体生物钟的生理和病理具有极其重要的意义。光抑制褪黑激素分泌在夜间使用的途径参与昼夜光感受。褪黑激素节律（如通过其在血浆、唾液或其主要代谢物尿中的6-硫酸氧褪黑激素[aMT 6s]中的曲线所证明的）是人类昼夜节律起搏器的定时的最佳外周指数。褪黑激素24小时曲线的光抑制和相移使得能够表征人类昼夜光感受性，并且激素的循环浓度用于研究健康和疾病中人类昼夜系统的一般特性。由于越来越多的证据表明褪黑激素具有抑制肿瘤的作用，因此，夜间光照对褪黑激素的抑制作用被认为是对重大疾病风险的一种可能影响。外源性褪黑激素作为一种“生物钟”。它会在“生理日”中增加睡眠倾向。这些特性已经导致了对多种昼夜节律紊乱的成功治疗。内源性褪黑激素可能以多种方式增强人类昼夜节律系统的功能。褪黑激素作为一种研究工具和各种疾病的治疗方法，在未来有很大的希望。
Melatonin signals time of day and time of year in mammals by virtue of its pattern of secretion, which defines 'biological night. It is supremely important for research on the physiology and pathology of the human biological clock. Light suppresses melatonin secretion at night using pathways involved in circadian photoreception. The melatonin rhythm (as evidenced by its profile in plasma, saliva, or its major metabolite, 6-sulphatoxymelatonin [aMT6s] in urine) is the best peripheral index of the timing of the human circadian pacemaker. Light suppression and phase-shifting of the melatonin 24 h profile enables the characterization of human circadian photoreception, and circulating concentrations of the hormone are used to investigate the general properties of the human circadian system in health and disease. Suppression of melatonin by light at night has been invoked as a possible influence on major disease risk as there is increasing evidence for its oncostatic effects. Exogenous melatonin acts as a 'chronobiotic. Acutely, it increases sleep propensity during 'biological day. These properties have led to successful treatments for serveal circadian rhythm disorders. Endogenous melatonin acts to reinforce the functioning of the human circadian system, probably in many ways. The future holds much promise for melatonin as a research tool and as a therapy for various conditions.